tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821967393267481685.post3951032189167259116..comments2024-03-03T15:20:55.210-08:00Comments on Granite County History: An old Indian TrailGranitecountyhistoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375812580498843659noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821967393267481685.post-71235563788000061392014-02-01T16:15:21.299-08:002014-02-01T16:15:21.299-08:00In my Books "Mettle of Granite County" I...In my Books "Mettle of Granite County" I spoke of Colonel George Morse in Book One concerning his politics and in Book Three mostly about his family and ranch. Do you have records that show when the ranch was bought? I never went to the Court House. The information I used was from Newspapers and family documents from Sandy Barker. According to John Hagg's obituary they were originally partners in the ranch. If you and your family would be interested I would do a blog post about Colonel George with any new information you could provide me. Contact me at:loraine.domine4@gmail.comGranitecountyhistoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02375812580498843659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821967393267481685.post-63431126426784218912014-01-28T21:45:11.258-08:002014-01-28T21:45:11.258-08:00The reason I asked, my father's mother said sh...The reason I asked, my father's mother said she knew a fellow who served time in the pen for horse rustling, stealing horses from the Bitterroot and driving them over what she referred to as Horse Thief Pass, probably the Bitterroot Direct. Grandmother stated that this unnamed convict never revealed any associates, but she knew that my mother's great uncle, Col. Morse was complicit in at least using stolen horses on his cattle operation of several hundred head, which was the first ranch on Upper Willow Creek (established in 1871). The Col.'s brand was 17 and is recorded in the first brand book (which is available on line). I was delighted with learning of the Bitterroot Direct trail and hope to explore it some day. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821967393267481685.post-53593129900601931132014-01-27T12:01:59.703-08:002014-01-27T12:01:59.703-08:00*ahead of the pack team*ahead of the pack teamGranitecountyhistoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02375812580498843659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821967393267481685.post-38908565208422102682014-01-27T12:00:16.066-08:002014-01-27T12:00:16.066-08:00I have never heard of any of the passes referred t...I have never heard of any of the passes referred to as "Horse Thief Pass" but have heard the story that Red Potter used the Bitterroot Direct to transport his stolen horses. Joe Gillies told his son Bob that Red trained his pack string to go in front of him instead of being lead and that he would put the stolen herd of the pack team. He was never caught because when he heard anyone coming he took off and the pack horses would always wander back to their camp before nightfall. Also Frank Brady cached his stolen horse herds in Gilbert Gulch very close to the mouth of Rock Creek and when the weather was right would take them up the Blackfoot to the Seeley Lake area and then into Canada to sell them. There are references in the Philipsburg Mail about men being caught in the Bitterroot when they tried selling the horses stolen in Granite County. The horse thief mistakenly tried to sell the horses to the Missoula County sheriff.Granitecountyhistoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02375812580498843659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821967393267481685.post-37349616749589051072014-01-26T19:53:10.928-08:002014-01-26T19:53:10.928-08:00Has anyone a reference to "Horse Thief Pass&q...Has anyone a reference to "Horse Thief Pass"?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com